Holidays for Couples Holidays for Couples Apr-Sep 2017 - Page 31

holiday hacks // wanderlust
HOW TO...
Take Awesome Photos
10 tips to nailing the perfect holiday snap on your smartphone
Take your smartphone everywhere
Okay, it’s likely you’ll be carrying your smartphone
around with you anyway, but it’s still an important tip.
Sometimes the most amazing photo ops can be when
(and where) you least expect them, so always have your
smartphone ready – with battery fully
charged – on your travels.
Find the lighter side
Any great photographer will tell
you that light can make or break a
photo. Early morning is normally
the best time to shoot, as the sun bathes everything in
a golden glow. Sunset also makes for incredible photos,
but try to avoid the harsh light in the middle of the day.
Avoid the clichés
We’re all guilty of a cliché holiday snap (“Look, I’m
holding up the Leaning Tower of Pisa!”), but take
some time to find a different viewpoint. If it’s a famous
building you’re photographing, can you go round the
back? Is there a higher viewpoint? Also, look for
shadows or unique details that others might not notice.
The devil’s in the details
Pretty much any destination offers opportunities for
breathtaking or epic pics, but for an interesting
photographic series don’t forget the little things.
For example, if you’re at the Eiffel Tower, also take
photos of the people around you, the market
stalls and things like flocks of birds flying past.
Come on, get appy!
There’s a range of apps out there to help improve your
pics with a few tweaks. Simple things like clever
cropping, adjusting the brightness or adding a filter
can vastly improve your snaps. Check out Snapseed,
Camera Awesome and Enlight for handy editing tools.
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Compose for impact
It’s easy to be overwhelmed by the beauty of a new
destination, but when it comes to photos it’s important
to have a clear focal point. Focus carefully on your
point of interest and play around with angles, distances
and viewpoints. You might feel silly, but try kneeling,
standing on a step or moving a few steps to one side.
Wake up early (trust us)
Need a reason to set your alarm for 5am? If you’re
visiting popular landmarks or attractions, getting there
as early as possible means you won’t be fighting for the
best viewpoint. There’s also something eerily beautiful
about seeing a place that’s usually packed out, without
the hoards of people.
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Up close and personal
Smartphones have small sensors that can create a much
larger depth of field than a traditional camera. So you can
get more of a scene in focus (and even better angles, as
phones are so small and light). Make these factors work
for you and get close to your subject for super-focused
images with impressive detail.
People power
People can often be the best
subject for photos and also provide a sense of scale and
context. Be sure to ask locals for their permission first
and photograph them with kindness, and respect for
their culture. Posed shots can be beautiful, but try to
take some candid ones, too.
Back it on up now
These days, thankfully, you don’t have to lug a laptop
or external drive around with you on your travels –
saving your precious pics is as simple as uploading
them to the cloud or your favourite storage facility
(make sure you have plenty of space before you leave)
whenever you have internet access. Don’t. Forget. H
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